ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Previous efforts to use incentives for weight loss have resulted in substantial weight regain after 16 weeks.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a longer term weight loss intervention using financial incentives.

DESIGN

A 32-week, three-arm randomized controlled trial of financial incentives for weight loss consisting of a 24-week weight loss phase during which all participants were given a weight loss goal of 1 pound per week, followed by an 8-week maintenance phase.

PARTICIPANTS

Veterans who were patients at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center with BMIs of 30–40.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomly assigned to participate in either a weight-monitoring program involving a consultation with a dietician and monthly weigh-ins (control condition), or the same program with one of two financial incentive plans. Both incentive arms used deposit contracts (DC) in which participants put their own money at risk (matched 1:1), which they lost if they failed to lose weight. In one incentive arm participants were told that the period after 24 weeks was for weight-loss maintenance; in the other, no such distinction was made.